Chapter two - Garden of Shadows

"So, tell me, how is Louisa doing? And why is she not here for such a momentous event?"

Fredrick had to consciously hold himself back from rolling his eyes at the second part of Mr. Brown's question. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing 'momentous' about two adults being forced into a union; especially when those two adults could barely stand to be in the same room with each other.

"She is doing very well. She sends her apologies for not being able to make it. We all got ready to come over here when she got a call from the hospital for some emergency. But she promised to join us as soon as she could slip out of there unnoticed."

"Oh, okay. I believe you'll be spending the night here. We had the guest rooms prepared."

"Spending the night?" Fredrick asked dropping his fork. 

"Yes, of course. We have a lot to talk about…"

Both Fredrick and Susan looked between the two men. Nobody said anything to Fredrick about sleeping over, and Susan couldn't tell what they meant by 'a lot.' They were obviously not going to plan the entire wedding in one night, and her husband had not said anything about their guests sleeping over. 

"Dad, please, may I speak to you…?" He looked around the table, "uhh… in private?"

Mr. August looked at his hosts, a silent question.

"You can use the second living room." Susan offered. "It's up the stairs, to your right." She added. 

Mr. August already knew his way around. He and his wife had visited the Browns lots of times. The only reason why Fredrick and Stacey were not so acquainted was because they'd both studied abroad. Fredrick went to fashion academy in Paris, while Stacey studied law in Harvard. They were coincidentally never home at the same time, and they always had separate holiday plans.

"Thanks Susan. Please, excuse us."

Mr. August led the way, and Fredrick followed right behind him. 

"Dad, could you please explain what all of this mean?"

"What exactly do you not understand?"

"Well, for starters, I do not understand how or why you would just spring marriage at me out of the blue. I mean, if you wanted a daughter-in-law, all you needed to do was ask. And, did you even consider the fact that I might already be in a committed relationship with someone I love?"

Mr. August guffawed at the statement. If there was anything he could bet is assets on, it was the fact that his son never took any woman seriously.

"What was that for?" 

"What? The laugh? You and I know that there's no woman in your life."

"Okay, true. But that still does not mean that I need help finding a wife. I am well capable of making that decision all on my own."

"I never said you weren't."

"So, why this? Why didn't either you or mum talk to me about it first? And why her?"

"Because your mother and I know how stubborn you can be. You would not have agreed to attend this dinner if you'd been given prior notice."

"Damn straight, I wouldn't be here. This isn't the medieval times when parents chose life partners for their children. We are in the 21st century, so please make this make sense." 

"Fredrick, listen…"

"Is it the company? Are you having financial problems? You know you can talk to me about things like that, I am making more money than I could ever spend."

"The company has never been better Fred."

"Are you sick? Did you get diagnosed with some sort of terminal…"

"It is not that either. I am in perfect health. Now if you would just listen for one second…"

Mr. August's phone vibrated, cutting him off. The call was from his wife.

"Honey, how's the dinner going?"

Mr. August let out a deep sigh, "well, they've been told about the wedding. Nothing else has been spoken about yet. How's your meeting coming along? Are you done?"

"Not yet. I just snuck out to make this call. And, I think I'll be scrubbing in on a surgery. The director insists my expertise is needed. 

"You're heading the surgery?"

"No. Just overseeing. However, it's going to be a quick one. I should be rounding off everything in about an hour."

"Okay, that's good. We'll be waiting for you then."

"Later honey, I love you."

"Love you too."

Fredrick couldn't stop himself from smiling as the phone call ended. He loved to watch his parents together. His father was already in his sixties, and his mother in her late fifties, yet they were still in love like high school kids. He wanted a love like their own. To find a woman he could cherish as much. But he was never lucky with ladies. The first woman he gave his heart to threw it back in his face after three years of extorting him. 

People thought he was a play boy, but that was only because he had never met a woman that wasn't after his money. So, he jumped in and out of relationships faster than the speed of light in search of that one person that would finally be his light. Which is why he was never going to agree to be with a woman like Stacey Brown. They had absolutely nothing in common, and they detested each other. His countenance went back to being foul as he remembered the situation he'd found himself.

"Dad, I know that Mr. Brown has been your best friend for years, and his daughter probably has a few good things about her, but I cannot marry her."

"We'll finish this talk when your mother gets here, with Stacey and her parents. For now, let us get back down. It is not polite to keep our guests waiting too long."

"And what is this talk about sleeping over? I didn't take anything with me."

"I'm sure you'll find that everything you need has already been prepared."

Fredrick was lost for words. Everything had already been carefully planned out, He was the only one left in the dark. 

He trudged reluctantly behind his father, coming up with a plan of his own. If neither he nor Stacey wanted this union, then they could easily present a united front and defy their parents, or sabotage the union, whichever one worked. Bottom line is, he was willing to put aside his differences and work with Stacey. A few hours or days of working together would surely be better than a lifetime of forced misery.

"Just in time. Dessert has been served." Susan announced, settling into her own seat.

"Looks appetizing. Thank you, Susan."

"My pleasure."

"My wife said she'll be joining us soon."

"That's wonderful. Speaking of people, where is Stacey? Shouldn't she be done with that call already?" Mr. August asked, not directing the question to anyone in particular.

"Let me ring her phone. I am sure that she is…"

"I'll go find her." Fredrick offered immediately, getting back up. If he was going to come up with a counterplan with Stacey, he needed some time alone with her. And preferably, before his mother arrived. He wasn't sure what their parents had planned out, but he didn't wasn't them convincing Stacey to go along with their ridiculous plan before he could make her see how much of a disaster it would be.

Everyone looked at him, surprise on their faces. 

Susan who was about to get up relaxed back into her seat, a smile on her face. She also was not sure why her husband was insistent on having their only child marry someone against her wish, but now, it looked like there might be hope for them after all. 

 "Of course. You two can take as much time as you need," Susan grinned, already picturing what Stacey would look like in a wedding dress. She was going to make a very stunning bride. Stacey had the kind of body that most ladies paid millions to get through surgery. She was perfectly curved in the right places, was about 5ft 8'', and had a skin that glowed to perfection. 

Fredrick smiled, he intended to take his time. But, not bonding with Stacey as they assume. "Alright, where might I find her ma'am?"

"She couldn't have gone far, so I'm guessing she's either by the fountain, or in the garden. Maybe start with the fountain."

"Okay." 

Fredrick wanted to ask for directions to the garden but decided he'd figure it out. He noticed the fountain when he first drove into the villa, so he already knew where that was. He headed straight for the fountain when he heard what sounded like movements behind the house. So, he changed direction. The garden was most likely going to be behind, so he might as well check there first.

He walked slowly and quietly. He didn't want to startle Stacey and get into another round of a heated argument. As he got closer, he noticed the lights were not lit, but he saw three figures, and one of them was Stacey. He wouldn't have recognized her, safe the fact that she wore a white, sparkly dress that glittered under the light of the moon, in contrast to the black that the other two figures wore. 

Then, the man that had snuck up behind her slammed a fist into her face as she turned around to run.